Driving offence codes explained
A driving offence in the UK can have some pretty serious consequences, not least penalty points on your licence.
Here’s a look at the most common driving conviction codes and what they mean.
A driving offence in the UK can have some pretty serious consequences, not least penalty points on your licence.
Here’s a look at the most common driving conviction codes and what they mean.
Most common driving offences
If you’re convicted of a driving offence in the UK, penalty points, officially known as endorsements, will be put on your licence.
Every driving conviction is given an endorsement code, which will stay on your licence for four or 11 years depending on the offence.
Depending on how serious the offence is, you could also end up in court, face a driving disqualification or even be sent to prison.
The most common driving convictions are for:
- Speeding
- Ignoring rules of the road (other than speeding)
- Driving without insurance
- Drink driving
- Driving while using a mobile phone
Driving conviction codes
Accident offences (AC)
The following codes and penalty points stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
AC10 | Failing to stop after an accident | 5 to 10 |
AC20 | Failing to give particulars or report an accident within 24 hours | 5 to 10 |
AC30 | Undefined accident offences | 4 to 9 |
Disqualified Driver (DD)
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
BA10 | Driving while disqualified by order of court | 6 |
BA30 | Attempting to drive while disqualified | 6 |
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of conviction:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
BA40 | Causing death by driving while disqualified | 3 to 11 |
BA60 | Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified | 3 to 11 |
Careless driving (CD)
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
CD10 | Driving without due care and attention | 3 to 9 |
CD20 | Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users | 3 to 9 |
CD30 | Driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users | 3 to 9 |
CD33 | Causing serious injury by careless driving | 3 to 9 |
The following stay on a licence for 11 years from the date of conviction:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
CD40 | Causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink | 3 to 11 |
CD50 | Causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs | 3 to 11 |
CD60 | Causing death by careless driving with alcohol level above the limit | 3 to 11 |
CD70 | Causing death by careless driving then failing to supply a specimen for alcoholic analysis | 3 to 11 |
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of conviction:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
CD80 | Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving | 3 to 11 |
CD90 | Causing death by driving unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured | 3 to 11 |
Construction and use offences (CU)
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
CU10 | Using a vehicle with defective brakes | 3 |
CU20 | Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of use of unsuitable vehicle or using a vehicle with parts or accessories (excluding brakes, steering or tyres) in a dangerous condition | 3 |
CU30 | Using a vehicle with defective tyre (s) | 3 |
CU40 | Using a vehicle with defective steering | 3 |
CU50 | Causing or likely to cause danger by reason of load or passengers | 3 |
CU80 | Breach of requirements as to control of the vehicle, such as using a mobile phone | 3 to 6 |
Reckless/dangerous driving (DD)
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of conviction:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DD10 | Causing serious injury by dangerous driving | 3 to 11 |
DD40 | Dangerous driving | 3 to 11 |
DD60 | Manslaughter or culpable homicide with driving a vehicle | 3 to 11 |
DD80 | Causing death by dangerous driving | 3 to 11 |
DD80 | Furious driving | 3 to 9 |
Drink (DR)
The following drink driving endorsements stay on a licence for 11 years from the date of conviction:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DR10 | Driving or attempting to drive with alcohol level above the limit | 3 to 11 |
DR20 | Driving or attempting to drive while unfit through drink | 3 to 11 |
DR30 | Driving or attempting to drive while then failing to supply a specimen for analysis | 3 to 11 |
DD31 | Driving or attempting to drive then refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity | 3 to 11 |
DD61 | Refusing to give permission for analysis of a blood sample that was taken without consent due to incapacity in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive | 10 |
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of offence or for four years from date of conviction if disqualified:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DR40 | In charge of a vehicle while alcohol level above limit | 10 |
DR50 | In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink | 10 |
DR60 | Failure to provide a specimen for analysis in circumstances other than driving or attempting to drive | 10 |
DR70 | Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test | 4 |
Drugs (DG)
The following drug offences stay on a licence for 11 years from the date of conviction:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DG10 | Driving or attempting to drive with drug level about the specified limit | 3 to 11 |
DG60 | Causing death by careless driving with drug level above limit | 3 to 11 |
DG80 | Driving or attempting to drive when unfit through drugs | 3 to 11 |
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence or for four years from the date of conviction if disqualified:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
DG40 | In charge of a vehicle while drug level above specified limit | 10 |
DG70 | Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test | 4 |
DG90 | In charge of a vehicle when unfit through drugs | 10 |
Insurance offences (IN)
This endorsement for driving without insurance stays on a licence for four years from the date of offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
IN10 | Using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks | 6 to 8 |
Licence offences (LC)
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
LC20 | Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence** | 3 to 6 |
LC30 | Driving after making a false declaration about fitness when applying for a licence | 3 to 6 |
LC40 | Driving while failing to notify the DVLA of a disability | 3 to 6 |
LC50 | Driving after licence has been cancelled (revoked) or refused on medical grounds | 3 to 6 |
**An example of an LC20 offence would be to drive a vehicle – such as an HGV – that isn’t covered by your licence.
Miscellaneous offences (MS)
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
MS10 | Leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position | 3 |
MS20 | Unlawful pillion riding | 3 |
MS30 | Play street offences*** | 2 |
MS50 | Motor racing on the highway | 3 to 11 |
MS60 | Offences not covered by other codes | 3 |
MS70 | Driving with uncorrected defective eyesight | 3 |
MS80 | Refusing to do an eyesight test | 3 |
MS90 | Failing to give information as to the identity of driver etc | 6 |
***For example, driving on a playground or recreational area that’s officially closed off to traffic.
Motorway offences (MW)
The following offence for breaking motorway regulations – excluding speeding – stays on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
MW10 | Contravention of special roads regulations (excluding speed limits) | 3 |
Pedestrian crossings (PC)
The following stay on a licence for four years for the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
PC10 | Undefined contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations | 3 |
PC20 | Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with moving vehicle | 3 |
PC30 | Contravention of pedestrian crossing regulations with stationary vehicle**** | 3 |
****For example, parking on a zebra crossing.
Speed limits (SP)
The following speeding endorsements stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
SP10 | Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits | 3 to 6 |
SP20 | Exceeding speed limit for type of vehicle (excluding goods or passenger vehicles) | 3 to 6 |
SP30 | Exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road | 3 to 6 |
SP40 | Exceeding passenger vehicle speed limit | 3 to 6 |
SP50 | Exceeding speed limit on a motorway | 3 to 6 |
Traffic direction and signs (TS)
The following stay on a licence for four years from the date of the offence:
Code | Offence | Penalty points |
---|---|---|
TS10 | Failing to comply with traffic light signals | 3 |
TS20 | Failing to comply with double white lines | 3 |
TS30 | Failing to comply with a ‘stop’ sign | 3 |
TS40 | Failing to comply with direction of a constable/warden | 3 |
TS50 | Failing to comply with other traffic signs | 3 |
TS60 | Failing to comply with a school crossing patrol sign | 3 |
TS70 | Undefined failure to comply with a traffic direction sign | 3 |
‘Mutual recognition’ codes
You’ll get an ‘MR’ code if you’re disqualified while driving in Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man. This code is valid for four years.
Code | Offence |
---|---|
MR09 | Reckless or dangerous driving |
MR19 | Failing to help the other driver after a hit and run |
MR29 | Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drug |
MR39 | Driving over the speed limit |
MR49 | Driving whilst disqualified |
MR59 | Any other offence that leads to a driving ban |
Code TT99
This code shows that the licence owner has been disqualified after ‘totting up’ 12 or more penalty points within three years.
This code stays on your licence, banning you from driving for four years from the date of conviction.
Vehicle theft (UT50)
The UT50 code for stealing a vehicle will result in three to 11 penalty points and stays on your licence for four years from the date of the offence.
Complicit offences
If you help, permit or encourage someone else to commit a driving offence, your licence will also be endorsed with a number in relation to the endorsement code:
- For aiding an offence, such as helping someone to steal a vehicle, the last number to a 2
- For permitting an offence, for example, if a passenger answers a mobile phone (not hands-free) then passes it to the driver, the last number will change from a 0 to a 4
- For encouraging someone to commit an offence, the last number will change from a 0 to a 6
How to check if you’ve got points on your licence
You can see information about your driving licence on the DVLA website. If you’ve been convicted of a driving offence, you’ll be able to see any penalty points, as well as the corresponding endorsement code.
Driving offences and car insurance
Top tipTo avoid an IN10 driving without insurance endorsement, take your car off the road and declare it SORN with the DVLA. This will allow you to keep your car in a garage or on your driveway without having to tax or insure it. Be aware that it’s illegal to park your car on the road or drive it while it’s uninsured. |
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